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Monday, March 25, 2013

A Pile of Quilting Samples

As you can see this is a large pile of quilted samples with the spools of thread attached. I have been working on these samples off and on since last summer as I had volunteered to give a program for our guild on the subject. The title of my program was Threads, Threads, Threads. I wanted to make quilted samples to show to guild members and for my own edification using all types, brands and weights of threads. I wanted to be able to compare brands, compare weights and types of fibers.

My first job was to go through my thread stash and pull the different kinds I had already on hand. I figured I would just buy small spools of lots of other kinds to use for my samples to fill in the blanks. Much to my surprise I had a lot more kinds of thread than I initially thought. Some of the spools I had used and some brand new – how does that happen? Am I a thread hoarder? When you don’t live close to fabric stores you tend to buy supplies “in case” you need them, right? By the way, I am trying to justify all the thread I have. I am organized though and can find any thread at any time, that should count for something shouldn’t it? I just snapped a photo of the Jammer boxes that hold the smaller spools all lined up with a larger plastic box on top to hold the larger cones and spools that don’t fit in the Jammer boxes. The boxes are organized by type of thread so I can just grab a box and find the kind and color of thread I want to use or know right away I don’t have it. I used to sew clothing and two of the boxes hold all the left over threads from the many clothing projects I stitched up over the years. Most of it is cotton wrapped polyester thread that I don’t use often but like that I have most every color I might need at any time or one that will blend nicely.

The Jammer boxes are great for holding lots of thread and you can read about them here on my April 5, 2010 blog post. These are really intended to hold little toy cars and have two sides with hinged lids. The little sections are great to hold spools of thread and to keep the dust off of them.

This is another thing I do with spools that don’t have a good way to secure the thread tails when not using them. I purchased a package of little girls tiny ponytail elastic bands. They are very stretchy and fit over the spools, securing the threads and preventing a tangled mess. I do take them off to use the thread as the elastic holds the thread too tight and effects the tension.

Whoops, got off subject for a little bit didn’t I….back to the samples. I gave the program this last week for my quilt guild and do have another lined up this fall for another guild. I have photos all taken of the samples and threads and now have to write up the blog posts. One last thing I want to share with you before I sign off. I felt it was important for guild members to see the actual spool of thread for each sample so came up with this way to keep them organized with the sample that was quilted with each thread. Slipped a piece of yarn through the spool, tied a bow and safety pinned it to the sample. Not high tec. but it worked and everyone appreciated being able to see the threads on the spools. It was a little more bulky to transport them but at least I didn’t have to spend time during the program sorting threads to match samples.

Tomorrow I will start showing the samples again so come back and check it out.

Thank you Lynn for all the information. It seams not all the thread I use on my sewing machine work great on my industrial machine. but I should try next time Bottom Line. I used it for English paper piecing and loved it. Can't wait for your next posts.

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About Me

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children...to leave the world a better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."
Ralph Waldo Emerson.
I love living on a Nebraska farm and being able to look across the countryside from my sewing room window.